A group of civil society organizations, researchers, and European lawmakers sent a letter to European Commission leaders this week. The letter asks the Commission to fully use its new AI enforcement powers.
The letter was addressed to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Tech Commissioner Henna Virkkunen. It was sent on Thursday.
These new powers come from the EU's AI Act. The law's rules have already been in place, but enforcement does not begin until August 2, 2026.
What the New Powers Allow
Starting in August, the Commission can request documents and information from AI developers. It can also run its own evaluations of AI models.
The Commission will be able to bring companies to the table if it believes they are breaking rules. These rules cover topics like transparency and bias in AI systems.
As a last resort, the Commission can issue large fines against companies that do not comply. The letter's authors want the agency to use this full range of tools.
Signatories include AI professor Yoshua Bengio. The Future of Life Institute, an AI safety group, also signed the letter.
Two European lawmakers, Michael McNamara and Reinier van Lanschot, added their names as well. The letter calls on the Commission to act with confidence once enforcement begins.
Calls for More Resources
The letter also asks for stronger funding and support for the EU's AI Office. This office is the main body overseeing the AI Act.
The groups want more resources for EU evaluators who test AI models. Earlier this week, the Commission said it would build new AI testing capacity by next year.
The Commission has not yet said how much funding this testing capacity will receive. It also has not explained exactly how the new system will work.
The letter points out that AI developers already had a year to prepare for these rules. It argues there is no reason for further delay once enforcement begins.
This push comes as scrutiny grows over how the EU enforces its tech laws. Past criticism has focused on enforcement of the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act.
Much of the criticism centers on large US companies, which make up many of the top AI developers. Some media reports say the Commission has delayed fines or investigations against US firms in the past.
The EU and US have set up a tech dialogue in recent years. The Commission has said its laws are not up for negotiation as part of that process.
Washington has criticized several EU tech laws in recent years. Reports have suggested the Commission held back some enforcement actions to avoid tension with the Trump administration.
The AI Act's enforcement phase begins in less than a month. Civil society groups say the coming weeks will show whether the Commission acts on the powers it now holds.
